What does it mean that whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (Romans 10:13)?

TL;DR:

Calling on the name of the Lord means to profess the faith in Christ that is already in one’s heart. Calling on the name of the Lord isn’t what saves us—it just expresses our faith.

Quoting from Joel 2:32, Romans 10:13 says, "For 'everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved'" (cp. Acts 2:16–41). To "call on the name of the Lord," means outward profession of faith caused by heart attitude and belief. Paul references Old Testament passages to demonstrate that salvation has never been by our works, but always by God's work (Isaiah 28:16; Ephesians 2:8–9). God’s grace received through faith in the Lord saves us, not our works or our heritage (Galatians 3:27–29; Romans 10:12–13). Salvation comes when we believe in our heart the resurrection of Christ, which also implies believing in His sacrificial death (Romans 10:9). Those who believe this are born again (John 3:3–18). Beliefs of the heart never stay in the heart (Luke 6:45) but are shown in words and deeds (Matthew 7:15–20). In Romans 10, Paul shows the natural result of believing in the gospel: declaring that belief. Saving faith will always be marked by calling on the Lord (Romans 10:11–13). Our actions don’t save us, though. Only faith in Christ saves. Calling on the Lord expresses our faith.

from the old testament

Genesis 4:26 expresses a similar message to Romans 10:13: “To Seth also a son was born, and he called his name Enosh. At that time people began to call upon the name of the Lord.” Calling upon the name of the Lord suggests the public outworking of one’s inner faith in the Lord.
Psalm 116:1–2 expresses confidence that the Creator hears us when we call on Him: “I love the Lord, because he has heard my voice and my pleas for mercy. Because he inclined his ear to me, therefore I will call on him as long as I live.” The psalmist calls on the Lord because he is sure God will hear his prayer. We can always bring our petitions and praises to God.
Joel 2 presents God’s judgment on the disobedient nation of Judah. Amid those prophecies of judgment, Joel 2:32 presents the Lord's promise of salvation for those who call on Him: “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. For in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there shall be those who escape, as the Lord has said, and among the survivors shall be those whom the Lord calls.” Joel’s prophecy applied not just to Judah but to future believers, which is why Paul quotes it.

from the new testament

Romans 10:13 says, “For ‘everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’” Paul is quoting Joel 2:32, which foretold a time when anyone who called on the name of the Lord would be saved. Paul used this verse to assert that anyone who calls on—has faith in—Jesus will be saved. “Call on” is more than just a verbal assent; it is having a saving faith in Christ.
In Acts 4:12 Peter says to rulers, scribes, and elders of Israel, “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” Jesus is our Savior. He came to earth in the flesh to die for us and atone for our sins. We are not saved by our works or through anything other than God’s grace received through faith in Christ alone.
Calling on the Lord shouldn’t be mistaken for some specific act through which we can be saved. As Ephesians 2:8–9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Calling, confessing, or declaring aren’t works that must be done to be saved.
Our actions reveal that salvation has occurred in the heart. Calling out to the Lord for salvation demonstrates trust in Him to grant salvation based on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection (Hebrews 11:6).

implications for today

The faith we have in our hearts is another way of expressing what Paul says in Romans: to call on the Lord (Romans 10:13). We trust God never to leave us (Deuteronomy 31:6; Romans 8:37–39). We trust in His promises of eternal life (John 3:16). Our call on the Lord is a testimony of our saving faith in Him. Part of loving the Lord with all our heart, soul, and mind is wanting to proclaim Him to the world (Matthew 22:37). Believers get baptized as a way of publicly demonstrating love and trust in God. Another way we show that is by sharing the gospel. By doing so, we’re also fulfilling the second greatest commandment to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39). We should want others to call on the Lord as they, too, can be saved. Our actions don’t save us, though. Only faith in Christ saves. Calling on Him is another way of expressing our faith.

understand

Calling on the name of the Lord means expressing outwardly the faith in Christ that is already in the heart.
Calling on the Lord doesn’t save us by itself; it is the faith behind the call that brings salvation.
Calling on the Lord is an outward declaration of trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, which is a result of the inward saving faith.

reflect

When in your life were you compelled to call on the name of the Lord, and what did that reveal about your faith?
How do you express your faith in Christ publicly, and how does that impact your relationship with God and others?
How have you experienced the connection between calling on the name of the Lord and salvation?

engage

How do you think the concept of calling on the name of the Lord can be misunderstood in today’s culture? What can we do to clarify its true meaning?
In what ways can we support one another in expressing our faith outwardly as a community of believers?
What are some practical steps we can take to help others understand the importance of faith in Christ over works when it comes to salvation?

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